ChristianToday.com reports that the motion to allow same-sex marriages within the church was proposed by the Diocese of Saldanha Bay. The motion would not fully embrace and encourage same-sex unions, but would welcome same-sex couples into the church, would equip church leaders to minister to them, and would offer “prayers of blessing” for such couples.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, said that the proposal “affirms the assurance already given by our bishops that church members who identify as LGBTI are loved by God and share in full membership of our Church as baptised members of the Body of Christ.”

Makgoba admitted that this is a controversial issue, but that it must be discussed:

"Without anticipating what Synod will decide, this debate is overdue in the top councils of our Church, and I welcome it,” he stated.

The Anglican Church of South Africa (ACSA) is generally more liberal than Anglican churches in other African nations. The upcoming synod, however, governs church law in other African countries besides South Africa.